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  • Deaf Woman Was Allegedly Stabbed by Neighbor Over Noise; She Says She Often Doesn’t Realize It’s Loud

    Deaf Woman Was Allegedly Stabbed by Neighbor Over Noise; She Says She Often Doesn’t Realize It’s Loud

    Cheryl Masucci says she tries to stay quiet and doesn’t understand why she was stabbed

    <p>Getty Images</p>

    A deaf woman was allegedly stabbed in the neck by her 84-year-old neighbor who authorities say had complained about loud noise and banging he would hear from the alleged victim’s apartment.

    Authorities responded to a report of a stabbing on Friday in Boston, Mass., where they found a woman with a stab wound to her neck, the Boston Police Department said in a statement. The victim was transported to a hospital with “non-life threatening injuries,” police said.

    Authorities did not name the victim but she identified herself to NBC Boston as 56-year-old Cheryl Masucci.

    An 86-year-old man was arrested on several charges including assaulting a disabled person and assault to murder, according to the statement. Police did not name the suspect and its unclear if the suspect has entered pleas or retained an attorney.

    Neighbors say the victim is deaf and expressed shock at the attack, WHDH, Boston 25, NBC Boston and CBS News reported.

    Masucci told NBC Boston that she has a speech impediment as a result of her deafness and that sometimes she does not realize if noise in her apartment is disturbing her neighbors.

    Masucci also told the outlet that she tries to be quiet and does not have a caregiver. 

    “I’m all by myself,” she told the outlet. “My father passed away.”

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    Neighbors spoke with several outlets and expressed concern and horror over the incident.

    “She didn’t have enemies,” Camille Racca told NBC Boston. “It’s too bad somebody would pick on somebody that’s deaf.”

    Another neighbor spoke about Masucci’s positive energy.

    “This should not have happened to her,” Elizabeth Clay told WHDH. “A girl who doesn’t even speak, and she signs. But whenever she sees me, she runs and gives me a big hug. I like her.”

    “She’s just a sweetheart,” neighbor Patty Granara told CBS News, adding: “I don’t know why anyone would bother her. She just walks around trying to talk to people.”

    Masucci says she is trying to move on from it and focusing on positive things.

    “I’m alright. I’m fine,” she told NBC Boston. “I don’t worry about that. I’m strong.”

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  • What to know about the case

    What to know about the case

    Karen Read‘s murder trial is underway.

    Read is accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her vehicle outside of another police officer’s home outside of Boston in January 2022 and leaving him for dead in the snow, prosecutors said in court documents.

    However, Read’s attorneys have alleged in court and in court documents a massive coverup between local and state police that has left the 44-year-old framed for O’Keefe’s murder — garnering national attention and dividing the small town of Canton, Massachusetts.

    Authorities have denied any coverup in the case, but the intrigue hasn’t stopped a crowd of Read supporters from showing up outside the Norfolk County Superior Courthouse since opening statements in her trial began on April 29, NBC Boston reported.

    Read has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly crash in connection with the death of O’Keefe.

    Here’s what to know about the case.

    Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing. (David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe / Getty Images)

    Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing. (David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe / Getty Images)

    What happened to John O’Keefe, according to prosecutors

    On the night of Jan. 28, 2022, Read, O’Keefe, Boston police detective Brian Albert, his sister-in-law Jennifer McCabe and others were out drinking at bars in Canton, outside Boston, according to a criminal complaint obtained by TODAY.com.

    The region was experiencing heavy snowfall and icy temperatures due to a winter storm, the complaint stated.

    At a bar where the group was gathered was shutting down around 12 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, the members of the group decided to go to Albert’s home, according to the complaint. Read and O’Keefe left in Read’s black Lexus SUV, prosecutors said in court filings.

    Multiple witnesses told authorities they recalled seeing a dark SUV pulling up to Albert’s home around 12:15 a.m., though no one from the car came inside, and it left around 12:45 a.m., prosecutors said.

    By 4:53 a.m., Read and O’Keefe’s niece both tried contacting O’Keefe, but they were not able to reach him, according to a police report obtained by NBC Boston. (TODAY.com has not reviewed the same report.)

    A friend picked up Read and McCabe to start looking for O’Keefe around 5 a.m., the complaint said.

    The group found O’Keefe unresponsive in the snow outside Albert’s house around 6 a.m. and began performing CPR until medical personnel arrived on the scene, according to the criminal complaint.

    O’Keefe was pronounced dead later that morning at Good Samaritan Hospital in Boston, according to the complaint.

    In a search of the crime scene, Canton police officers found a broken drinking glass consistent with one O’Keefe had been seen holding earlier in the night and patches of blood, prosecutors said.

    Around 6 p.m. on Jan. 29, Massachusetts State Police investigators also recovered three pieces of plastic consistent with the taillight on Read’s vehicle, prosecutors wrote in a court memo.

    In a phone call, a spokesperson for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office declined to comment on the case to TODAY.com, due to the ongoing trial.

    What is Karen Read’s defense?

    Karen Read supporters gathered around a phone speaker to listen to opening arguments (Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe  / Getty Images)Karen Read supporters gathered around a phone speaker to listen to opening arguments (Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe  / Getty Images)

    Karen Read supporters gathered around a phone speaker to listen to opening arguments (Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe / Getty Images)

    Read was charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly crash on Feb. 1, 2022, according to the criminal complaint.

    At the time, her attorney David Yannetti called the charges “a tremendous reach,” according to NBC Boston.

    Four months later, on June 9, a grand jury indicted Read on charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of personal injury and death, according the indictment filed in Norfolk Count Superior Court.

    She has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was later released on $100,000 bond, according to NBC Boston.

    In court, court filings and statements to the press, Read’s attorneys have argued that Read has been the victim of a massive coverup by the Canton Police Department.

    The day after Read was first charged in February, Yannetti alleged in court O’Keefe’s injuries were not consistent with a vehicle collision.

    He also alleged the lead state police trooper on the case, later identified as Michael Proctor, had a conflict of interest when he did not disclose his relationship with key witnesses, NBC Boston reported.

    In September 2022, Read’s defense team further argued that police framed Read, presenting evidence that showed O’Keefe was severely beaten, and that Albert had ties to both the Canton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police, NBC Boston reported.

    In August of that year, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said state and local police were not involved in a coverup, adding that there was no evidence to support O’Keefe was ever in the home where the party took place, according to NBC Boston.

    Morrissey called the idea that multiple police departments and the district attorney’s office would be involved in a “vast conspiracy” in the case “a desperate attempt to reassign guilt,” according to NBC Boston.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts launched an investigation into Read’s arrest and prosecution last year.

    Massachusetts State Police said in March it had opened an internal investigation into a “potential violation of department policy” against Proctor, NBC Boston reported. But state police have not said whether the investigation is related to a specific case.

    Michael DiStefano, Proctor’s attorney, told CNN his client was cooperating with the investigation and did nothing wrong.

    No one has been charged as a result of the federal investigation into the state’s prosecution of Read.

    In April 2023, Read’s attorneys released court documents with evidence they said showed McCabe searched “ho(w) long to die in cold” hours before O’Keefe was found, as well as photos of the lead state police investigator with members of Albert’s family.

    Prosecutors have disputed the timeline of McCabe’s search, saying she searched the query after O’Keefe’s body was found.

    Read’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case, though Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone denied the request in March, NBC Boston reported, leading to jury selection beginning in the trial on April 16.

    Who is ‘Turtleboy?’

    Aidan Aidan

    Aidan

    Aidan Kearney, a blogger who goes by “Turtleboy,” was one of Read’s supporters. NBC Boston described him as “a longtime presence in Massachusetts’ news scene.”

    He began posting dozens of articles about Read’s case, selling “Free Karen Read” merchandise and raising money for Read’s legal defense fund over the course of the case.

    Kearney was arrested on charges of witness intimidation and conspiracy on Oct. 11, 2023, according to NBC Boston.

    The judge ruled for Kearney to have no contact with the people he is accused of intimidating, which include Proctor and witnesses who were at the home where O’Keefe’s body was found, NBC Boston reported.

    Two months later, he was indicted on 16 additional witness intimidation charges related to his involvement with Read’s case, the station reported.

    His bail was revoked and he was sent to jail on Dec. 26, 2023 after he was charged with other witness intimidation counts, as well as assault and battery charges in connection with allegations that he pushed a woman he was dating, according to NBC Boston.

    Kearney has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied the accusations against him.

    “I will not be intimidated, I will not be silenced and we will continue on our journey,” Kearney told supporters outside of Stoughton District Court in October, according to NBC Boston.

    This article was originally published on TODAY.com

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  • One arrested at Northeastern’s commencement ceremony at Fenway Park

    One arrested at Northeastern’s commencement ceremony at Fenway Park

    One arrested at Northeastern’s commencement ceremony at Fenway Park

    Just over a week after more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested on Northeastern’s campus., one person who attempted to disrupt Sunday’s commencement ceremony was arrested, school officials tell Boston 25.

    “At Northeastern University’s undergraduate commencement ceremony this afternoon, nearly 30,000 people celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024. An individual who attempted to disrupt the ceremony was promptly apprehended and arrested by police,” said Renata Nyul, Northeastern University’s Vice President for Communications.

    Earlier this weekend, three current Northeastern University students told Boston 25 that they’re facing 30-40 hours of community service and are still waiting for possible discipline from the school.

    “Trespass and riot/refusal to disperse,” said Ben, a student citing his charges. “It was crazy that our school would rather do that … rather than come to the table and even talk about our demands.”

    Boston police were not able to provide any info regarding the arrest as the police report had yet to be written.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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  • The Russian Army may have defeated Ukraine — if it had followed its own manual

    The Russian Army may have defeated Ukraine — if it had followed its own manual

    • Russia’s huge cost in invading Ukraine is fallout for not following its own military doctrine.

    • Russian commanders have frequently erred on the basics of military operations, a RAND expert said.

    • The Russians also lacked the invasion force size necessary to follow their warfighting doctrine.

    The US Army’s new manual on Russian tactics is an impressive-looking document. It’s 280 pages packed with details and diagrams of how Russian soldiers are supposed to fight.

    It is also evidence of a major reason why Russian troops have often fought poorly in the Ukraine war: they are not following their own playbook.

    “A lot of the basic elements of that doctrine are sound enough that they could form a basis for successful operations,” Scott Boston, a Russia military expert for the RAND Corp. think tank, told Business Insider. “But you do have to follow them.”

    To be clear, the US Army’s manual — ATP7-100.1, “Russian Tactics” — specifies that it “is not meant to represent how the Russians are currently fighting in Ukraine.” Nonetheless, armies try to fight according to their doctrine, or the fundamental principles that are intended to guide military operations.

    For example, when a Russian division or brigade conducts an assault, units are supposed to advance in multiple echelons — or waves — of troops and tanks, tightly synchronized with reconnaissance, flank protection, engineering, artillery and air defense elements. The goal is to hit hard, move fast, breach the defenses and advance deep into the enemy rear. To minimize the resistance they face, assault troops should concentrate into multiple columns to “spread the attacking units in both width and depth to disperse and reduce the effects of nuclear or precision fires,” according to the ATP7-100.1 manual.

    But when Russia tried to seize Kyiv with a lightning advance in the opening days of the war, armored columns were sent down narrow, congested roads. Bottled up by roadblocks and ambushes, they were decimated by Ukrainian artillery, drones and anti-tank missiles. Nor does the manual describe how the Russian Army is fighting today. Instead of rapid and well-coordinated maneuver with its once-vaunted Aerospace Forces, attacks rely on obliterating Ukrainian defenses with artillery or glide bombs, or swamping them with large numbers of freed convicts and other “disposable infantry.”

    The cost has been enormous: an estimated 450,000 Russian casualties and 3,000 tanks destroyed. Moscow’s best pre-war units have been decimated, and its best tanks and other equipment wrecked.

    “Doctrinally sound attacks can still fail,” Boston pointed out. “But a lot of their mistakes were failures to follow doctrinal guidance that is there for good reason. Like, have a guard force out in front so your main body doesn’t blunder into combat and become decisively engaged. Don’t try to send your entire force down too few roads. Don’t leave your support troops unprotected. These were pretty basic things.”

    Russian military personnel rehearse in St. Petersburg ahead of the May 9 Victory Parade.

    Russian military personnel rehearse in St. Petersburg ahead of the May 9 Victory Parade.Artem Priakhin/Getty Images

    Assessing current Russian doctrine is difficult. Much of it is derived from the Soviet era of rigidly controlled mass armies. “The commander directs the fight, is responsible for the main elements of the plan, and generally does not expect initiative or flexibility to nearly the same degree from his subordinates, compared with a good US commander,” Boston explained.

    Yet military reforms enacted after 2008 were supposed to create smaller and more agile Western-style forces. “When that system failed for them in the initial months after February 2022, they reverted to older, more traditional approaches that eventually included much more emphasis on mass,” said Boston, a former US Army artillery officer.

    However, the problem may not have been Russian doctrine as much as the overall strategy of the Ukraine war. Soviet plans to invade Western Europe were based on fielding millions of Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops supported by huge stockpiles of weapons and supplies. With an initial assault force of just 180,000 soldiers attacking across a 600-mile-wide front against a smaller but still substantial Ukrainian army, Russia couldn’t generate the overwhelming mass that its doctrine counted on. Russian leaders also expected — as did many Western experts — that Ukrainian resistance would collapse and the country would be swiftly occupied. Assault units weren’t even briefed about the attack until just before the war began.

    “It’s not impossible to win battles with an inflexible army, but in order to have a reasonable chance of doing so it helps a lot to have a good plan,” Boston said. He pointed to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003: commanders hoped that Iraqi forces wouldn’t offer strong resistance, but the invasion plan assumed they might. “It would have been irresponsible for the US military to do otherwise. But Russia’s plan was that level of irresponsible. Units were directed to move into Ukraine and seize key locations on aggressive timetables and without meaningful warning or time to plan for things to go wrong. Doctrine and training can only do so much when you’re sent to do the wrong thing with the wrong tools for the job.”

    To be fair, some areas of Russian doctrine have proven quite sound, especially on the defense, where Russia stopped Ukraine’s counteroffensive last summer. “There are plenty of aspects to their defense that are entirely consistent with their historical practice and doctrine,” Boston said. “And in some cases, they’ve improved on their doctrine such as by increasing the depth and density of minefields.”

    One question will tantalize historians for years to come: could Russia have seized Kyiv — and probably won the war — in the first days of the invasion? “This is a tricky counterfactual,” said Boston. “If Russia had made more adequate preparations, Ukraine could have noticed and reacted differently. But Russia had some substantial advantages that they squandered with the initial plan and with their slow adaptation over time. If Russia had tried a better plan, things would have gone much worse for Ukraine much more quickly.”

    Ironically, Boston feels maligning Russian military prowess does a disservice to Ukrainian skill. If the Russian military was that bad, then maybe the Ukrainian military wasn’t that good? “We underrate how much damage the Ukrainians did against real Russian military capability if we think that that the Russians were all just terrible,” Boston said. “I don’t think they were terrible. I think they were terribly wrong-footed by their leadership.”

    Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

    Read the original article on Business Insider



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  • 4 Babies Were Found in Freezer in Home of Mom Who ‘Concealed Pregnancies.’ Why Weren’t Charges Filed?

    4 Babies Were Found in Freezer in Home of Mom Who ‘Concealed Pregnancies.’ Why Weren’t Charges Filed?

    A medical examiner found the cause of death for the babies to be “undetermined,” according to an April 30 press release from the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office

    <p>Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images</p> Boston police investigating the scene in November 2022.

    Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

    Boston police investigating the scene in November 2022.

    A Massachusetts mother who was the owner of the Boston apartment where four babies were found in a freezer last November will not face criminal charges following an investigation, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced Tuesday, April 30.

    In a press release, Hayden said he doesn’t believe a case against Alexis Aldamir, now 69, can be brought to trial due to several factors.

    “This investigation, which is one of the most complex, unusual and perplexing that this office has ever encountered, is now complete. While we have some answers, there are many elements of this case that will likely never be answered,” Hayden stated.

    “We will never know exactly where or when the four babies found in Alexis Aldamir’s apartment were born,” he added. “We will never know if the four babies were born alive, and we will never know exactly what happened to them. We will never know how Alexis Aldamir concealed her pregnancies, or why she chose to do so.”

    Related: Remains of 4 Infants Discovered in Boston Apartment, Police Say

    On Nov. 17, 2022, police officers responded to a residence in South Boston after receiving a 911 call from Aldamir’s brother about a baby found in a freezer, authorities said. The caller explained that he and his wife made the discovery while cleaning out the apartment where his sister once lived.

    That day, two male babies and two female babies, all of whom were siblings, were found “frozen solid,” authorities said. All were discovered in shoe boxes wrapped in tin foil and had their umbilical cords attached. The two females also had their placentas attached.

    The medical examiner reported that there was no scientific method to determine how long the babies — who were described as full term — had been frozen, according to the release.

    “The autopsy found no signs of internal or external trauma and no evidence of obvious injuries,” the release states. “There were no signs of food, or milk, or formula inside the babies’ stomachs.”

    Additionally, the medical examiner found the cause of death for all the babies to be “undetermined,” and said that they could not definitively determine whether the babies had been born alive.

    Investigators later learned that Aldamir owned and occupied the apartment after moving with her family from Maryland to Amherst in 1971, when she was almost 17 years old, authorities said. Records show Aldamir purchased the South Boston apartment in October 1983, and likely started living in the apartment as early as April 1982, per the release.

    Aldamir was tracked down to a residential healthcare facility and ordered by the court to provide a DNA sample, which revealed she was the mother of all four babies, according to the investigators.

    Authorities said Aldamir worked for an accounting firm in Boston from March 1980 to October 2021.

    Her co-workers described her as “a heavy-set woman who had a penchant for wearing loose-fitting clothing regardless of the season,” the release states. “None of Aldamir’s co-workers knew her to be pregnant at any point.”

    Additional DNA testing in June 2023 identified the likely father of the four babies as a man who died in 2011, according to the release. Investigators said he and Aldamir also shared a fifth child together that they put up for adoption. They added that Aldamir had given birth to a baby girl in 1982 but found no other birth records.

    Authorities said that in late 2022, investigators visited the healthcare facility where Aldamir now lives and questioned her about the four babies found in her apartment.

    “Throughout the interview Aldamir appeared confused and demonstrated a lack of understanding about where she was and who she was speaking to,” the release states. “As a result, she was unable to provide investigators with any significant information.”

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    “To further assess Aldamir’s cognitive ability, investigators reviewed publicly available probate court records and spoke with a lawyer for Aldamir. The information obtained suggests strongly that Aldamir would be unlikely to stand trial,” the release adds.

    Since investigators could not prove a crime had been committed, no charges will be filed.

    “In this case, investigators cannot prove that the babies were ever alive and they have no cause or manner of death. Second, the autopsy found no signs of internal or external trauma to the babies and no evidence of obvious injuries. Third, as the father is now deceased, he cannot not be charged with any crime.”

    The Boston Police Department Homicide Unit and Crime Laboratory, the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Bode Technologies of Virginia (a DNA research firm) also assisted in the investigation led by the district attorney’s office.

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  • Hundreds lead procession for fallen Billerica police Sgt. Ian Taylor

    Hundreds lead procession for fallen Billerica police Sgt. Ian Taylor

    Law enforcement from several departments across the commonwealth stood by and alongside the body of Sgt. Ian Taylor for a procession from Lahey Hospital to the Medical Examiner in Boston.

    Hundreds of officers gathered along the street and in the procession roughly 18 miles from Burlington to Boston.

    The Billerica police officer since 2011 was hit and killed by an excavator while working a detail at a construction site on Boston Road Friday.

    Taylor was a 21-year law enforcement veteran.

    Officers from across the state emotionally consoled one another outside the medical examiner’s office.

    “We have this ceremonial procession as part of our police culture,” said Todd McGhee, law enforcement and security expert who served 20 years with the Massachusetts State Police. “I hope that never ends.”

    Sgt. Ian Taylor

    Sgt. Ian Taylor

    McGhee told Boston 25 he’s been a part of multiple processions for officers in his department and many others across New England.

    He added, “The range of emotions are limitless. The emotions you go through are very real. They force you to reflect on your career, on your life.”

    An investigation into the incident on Boston Road Friday is still in the early stages of the investigation.

    McGhee urged any law enforcement officers struggling as a result to reach out to mental health resources at their respective departments.

    He finished, “This isn’t the place emotionally to show bravery. It’s about being healthy, being emotionally whole, and being able to sort through those different thoughts and feelings… Every police officer has that sense of, ‘Wow, that could have been me.’”

    The Billerica Police Department said a public vigil would take place on Sunday in the courtyard of Billerica Memorial High School from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    Funeral service arrangements have not been announced.

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  • Alleged Boston sex trafficker facing new charges, DA says

    Alleged Boston sex trafficker facing new charges, DA says

    An alleged Boston sex trafficker is facing new charges after being charged with sex trafficking last month

    John Jamar Cokley, 38 faces a dangerousness hearing on Monday after he was arraigned in Dorchester District Court on sex trafficking of a person under 18, rape of a child by force, three counts of aggravated statutory rape, posing a child in a state of sexual conduct, two counts of causing a minor to distribute a drug and possession of child pornography.

    Assistant District Attorney Ashley Polin said Cokley sexually exploited three teens using the app Instagram.

    Cokley, whose username included the term “Hidden,” contacted and groomed the teens, officials say.

    Over several months, he then met with each of them separately. Cokley would pick them up near their house, drive them to locations throughout Boston, and then sexually assault them in his white Honda Accord, the DA said.

    The man also requested sexually explicit photos and videos from the teens and recorded himself sexually assaulting them, creating child sexual abuse material.

    In text messages and in person, Cockley pressured and coerced them into sexual acts, including forcible rape of a child and statutory rape, the DA said.

    “Cokley gave two of the victims money and drugs in exchange for sexual activity and encouraged them to sell marijuana to their peers. Cokley collected and profited from the proceeds,” a release from the DA said.

    “Cases involving manipulation and sexual exploitation of children are devastating and all too common in today’s online world. Members of the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit (HTU) and our office are focused on stopping exploitation and supporting the victims and families affected by these crimes. The young people in this case should be commended for their bravery after the discovery of this man’s actions,” DA Hayden said.

    Cokley was charged in March with trafficking a person for sexual servitude, aggravated statutory rape, and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance.

    Cokley is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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  • Boston cannabis dispensary opens its doors on 4/20, adds to growing industry

    Boston cannabis dispensary opens its doors on 4/20, adds to growing industry

    On the unofficial holiday of 4/20, another dispensary opened its doors to new customers – part of the booming statewide cannabis industry.

    Rebelle on Albany Street in Boston is the first dispensary to open in the South End neighborhood. The company produces its own marijuana products while also selling other brands as well.

    Guillermo Erazo, assistant general manager of the store, told Boston 25 that their natural products focus on general wellness.

    “We produce our own product,” said Erazo. “We cultivate our own flower. We cultivate our own edibles and concentrates as well too.”

    Rebelle is now one of more than a dozen dispensaries across Boston that sell recreational marijuana.

    Recreational marijuana was legalized in Massachusetts in 2016. The cannabis control commission reported roughly $1.5 billion in sales in 2023 as the industry grows statewide.

    Erazo added, “We have a lot of consumers who came down that are more happy that it’s recreational, that we open up doors for consumers to get it the correct way.”

    The growing industry is also opening new doors for local businesses.

    Sam Burgess of Bootstrap Compost in Everett held a pop-up at the South End dispensary, saying his company can create a more sustainable marijuana industry.

    “We can actually compost green material after the harvesting,” said Burgess. “We can create bioplastics and whatnot for better packaging. So, I think there’s a lot of room for improvement.”

    While dozens trickled into the store, Erazo told Boston 25 he hopes cannabis will soon be totally destigmatized.

    Citing some benefits, Erazo finished, “Lupis, muscle relaxation, or an increase in appetite too.”

    Since retail stores opened in 2018, the cannabis control commission has reported roughly $6 billion in sales.

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  • Rats ravage car wires in Boston’s South End

    Rats ravage car wires in Boston’s South End

    Rodents are ravaging car wires in the South End and other Boston communities, costing neighbors thousands.

    Boston 25 News first reported on a string of recent complaints last week.

    Neighbors believe the sustainable soy wiring in their vehicles is a desirable food source for the rats.

    Two different South End residents who shared their stories said their cars were targeted by rodents on three different occasions.

    One said those three costly visits from the rodents have been giving her headaches since December.

    “Basically, they’re just eating my car,” said a Mass Ave neighbor, who has paid $2,000 out of pocket in damages. “They had built a nest, there was debris and it smelled horrible.”

    Neighbors believe the relentless rodents leave a pheromone smell underneath the hoods of cars they visit.

    “Once your car is targeted, it’s got a mark on it!,” said Claremont Park neighbor Edward Shklovsky. “The rats are using the car more than I did.”

    Shklovsky said more than $12,000 in damages from the three incidents were covered by his comprehensive insurance with a $500 deductible each time.

    He got rid of his BMW last year because of the rat feeding frenzy that was giving him anxiety.

    “It was not worth it anymore,” he said. “Some of these rats are the size of cats. They look like they’re eight, nine pounds. It’s insane!”

    Boston 25 News spoke with a neighbor on Columbus Avenue who learned rodents had taken shelter in his Mercedes two weeks ago.

    That revelation came after he brought his vehicle in for an oil change.

    “They weren’t able to open up the hood of my car, and they said it’s because rats probably ate the wiring,” said John Ash. “What can you do? You just hope it doesn’t happen again.”

    Ash paid $800 out of pocket, and he’s crossing his fingers that rodents won’t be returning to his vehicle.

    Boston 25 News also talked with a neighbor on Union Park who said her damages surpassed $6000, and fortunately it was covered by her insurance.

    Boston was dubbed one of the rattiest cities in America back in 2022 based on Orkin’s annual ratings.

    Last year alone, Boston catalogued nearly 4,000 rodent-related complaints.

    The City of Boston will be holding a hearing on Tuesday to talk about creating an Office of Pest Control after an ordinance filed by City Council President Ed Flynn.

    He said the issue of rats chomping on car wires is not isolated to the South End and is impacting people in many Boston neighborhoods.

    “I hear about it frequently,” said Flynn. “It’s common occurrence throughout Boston’s neighborhoods. Rats and mice getting into cars.”

    Flynn’s proposal follows a model from New York City, which employs a “rat czar”.

    “The people working on this issue are doing the best they can with limited resources,” added Flynn. “We need to streamline the process and put more resources into it.”

    Some residents who have complained about rodents damaging their vehicles said peppermint spray or oil seems to be a solid deterrent.

    Others said they didn’t find it to be effective.

    Pest control experts suggest regularly checking under the hood of your car, avoid parking near dumpsters if possible and asking your mechanic to clean out the rat urine and feces if your car is visited by rodents.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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  • Boston 25 and KFF Health News win Goldsmith Awards’ Inaugural Prize for Government Reporting

    Boston 25 and KFF Health News win Goldsmith Awards’ Inaugural Prize for Government Reporting

    Boston 25 Investigates and KFF Health News received a 2024 Goldsmith Award yesterday from The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School during the annual Goldsmith Awards ceremony.

    Boston 25 and KFF Health News were honored for their joint reporting titled “Overpayment Outrage.” The series exposed how the Social Security Administration (SSA) routinely sent overpayments to recipients that the SSA then clawed back by reducing or suspending monthly checks.

    “We’re honored to receive this prestigious award because it reflects CMG’s commitment to local news and investigative journalism,” said Marian Pittman, CMG’s President of Content. “The team’s relentless efforts to uncover the truth behind complex government policies and their implementation has resulted in tangible changes within the SSA and will directly benefit millions of people impacted by overpayments.”

    The Goldsmith special citation for reporting on government, awarded for the first time this year, recognizes reporting that examines how government and public policy implementation works, including how and why it can fail and how it can most effectively and efficiently solve problems.

    Boston 25 Investigates and its Washington News Bureau each contributed significantly to the reporting, collectively airing more than 100 news stories in 2023. The reporting partnership with KFF Health News, a non-profit online platform which distributes content through media partners nationwide, helped elevate the impact of the investigation and reached millions of TV viewers and online readers.

    “This series exposed the significant impact of these mistakes on millions of people, including those who had little to no ability to pay back the government, leaving some people to lose their homes, cars, and savings,” said Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Officer of KFF. “This is why KFF reports on systemic issues like this through its news service—to expose how people are affected by policy and challenges.”

    The award came just two weeks after the new chief of the Social Security Administration testified before Congress about major policy changes to reduce overpayments and limit clawbacks that left so many people in dire financial straits.

    Testifying at two Senate hearings on March 20, Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley said he is taking several steps to address the problem. O’Malley said the agency will stop “that claw back cruelty” of intercepting 100% of a beneficiary’s monthly Social Security check if they fail to respond to a demand for repayment. Instead, the agency will withhold 10% of the recipient’s monthly benefits to recoup the debt. Additionally, on the question of who caused an overpayment — the beneficiary or someone at the agency — the burden of proof will shift from the beneficiary to the agency, O’Malley said.

    Click here for comprehensive coverage of the SSA story and here to explore other important local and investigative reports that have protected thousands of consumers.

    PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

    25 Investigates uncovers billions of dollars in social security overpayments

    Social Security overpayments draw scrutiny and outrage from members of Congress

    Social Security reviewing overpayment policies, procedures following 25 Investigates reports

    New Social Security report shows growing overpayment problem tops $23 billion

    Exclusive: Sen. Hassan leads letter questioning SSA about Social Security overpayments

    25 Investigates: Social Security overpayments impact 2 million Americans, double original estimate

    Social Security chief apologizes to congress for misleading testimony on overpayments

    ‘I am just waiting to die’: Social Security clawbacks drive some into homelessness

    Proposal puts 10-year limit on how far back Social Security overpayments can be recouped

    Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW



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  • DA identifies 4-year-old girl who was struck, killed by vehicle in Boston

    DA identifies 4-year-old girl who was struck, killed by vehicle in Boston

    DA identifies 4-year-old girl who was struck, killed by vehicle in Boston

    Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden on Wednesday identified the 4-year-old girl who was fatally struck by a vehicle while walking with her family in Boston’s Fort Point section on Sunday.

    Gracie Gancheva was hit by the vehicle at the intersection of Congress and Sleeper streets, directly behind the Boston Children’s Museum, according to Hayden.

    In a statement, Hayden said, “It’s difficult to adequately express the scope of tragedy in losing someone so young. My staff and I extend our deepest condolences to Gracie Gancheva’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

    Gancheva was rushed to a local hospital after the crash and pronounced dead, according to Boston Police Superintendent Lanita Cullinane.

    A Boston Police Department report indicated that Gancheva, a native of Denver, Colorado, was visiting Boston with her family.

    In that report, a doctor listed Gancheva’s preliminary cause of death as “blunt force injury” and her manner of death as an “accident.”

    For several hours after the crash, investigators focused on a Ford F-150 pickup truck stopped in the street, photographing it and processing it for evidence before it was towed away from the scene.

    The driver remained at the scene after the crash. Hayden didn’t say if charges or citations had been issued.

    An investigation is ongoing.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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  • Weekend storm bringing inches of rain into Mass, snow to northern New England

    Weekend storm bringing inches of rain into Mass, snow to northern New England

    It might be the first weekend of spring, but it isn’t looking very spring-like.

    A messy storm is bringing inches of rain into Massachusetts and a significant amount of snow to northern New England.

    We begin with light snow and icy conditions across much of western and central Mass. along with southern New Hampshire. This will continue in central and northern Massachusetts throughout the late morning, said Boston 25 Meteorologist Jason Brewer shared in his latest weather blog.

    Saturday AM Snow Map
    Saturday AM Snow Map

    “There is some icing mainly in central and northwestern Massachusetts, but by far the heaviest impacts will be from the heavy rain,” said Brewer.

    Rain will pick up in the afternoon hours and through the night on Saturday.

    A flood watch has been issued for Central Middlesex, Western Essex, Eastern Essex, Western Hampden, Eastern Hampden, Southern Worcester, Western Norfolk, Southeast Middlesex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Northern Bristol, Western Plymouth, Eastern Plymouth, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket county until 8 a.m. on Sunday.

    A winter weather advisory has also been issued for Western Franklin, Eastern Franklin, Northern Worcester, Western Hampshire, Western Hampden, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, and Northwest Middlesex County until 12 p.m. on Saturday.

    Weather advisoriesWeather advisories

    Weather advisories

    Northern New England gets all snow and the green and white mountains are expected to get 12 to 18 inches of fresh powder.

    The storm is expected to pull out of Massachusetts by Sunday morning and it will be windy all day.

    For the latest forecast updates, visit the Boston 25 Weather page and download the Boston 25 Weather app.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

    Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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  • Weekend storm bringing inches of rain into Massachusetts, snow for others. Here’s what to expect

    Weekend storm bringing inches of rain into Massachusetts, snow for others. Here’s what to expect

    It might be springtime, but this weekend isn’t looking very spring-like.

    A messy storm will bring inches of rain into Massachusetts which will start off as snow and ice for others.

    A brief coating of snow is possible in the Boston area before 7 a.m. on Saturday when precipitation is set to transition to steady rain. Snowy and icy conditions will continue in central and northern MA through late morning or midday, Boston 25 Meteorologist Tucker Antico shared in his latest weather blog.

    Ice will also be a factor in messy weather this weekend.

    “Unlike snow, it only takes a little bit of ice to significantly deteriorate road conditions. If you live in an area where icy conditions are possible, like the Worcester Hills and southern New Hampshire, you really need to be cautious Saturday morning”,” Antico says.

    Antico says that rain is set to peak around 7 p.m. on Saturday and will continue through the night.

    A flood watch has been issued for Central Middlesex, Western Essex, Eastern Essex, Western Hampden, Eastern Hampden, Southern Worcester, Western Norfolk, Southeast Middlesex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Northern Bristol, Western Plymouth, Eastern Plymouth, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket county until 8 a.m. on Sunday.

    “We’ve had our fair share of soaking rain events, but Saturday’s will be particularly impactful. Unlike the others, all of the rainfall will occur during the day, and roadside flooding is possible everywhere with a broad 2-3″ expected,” Antico said.

    A winter weather advisory has been issued for Western Franklin, Eastern Franklin, Northern Worcester, Western Hampshire, Western Hampden, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, and Northwest Middlesex County until 12 p.m. on Saturday.

    Northern New England gets all snow and the green and white mountains are expected to get 12 to 18 inches of fresh powder.

    The storm is expected to pull out of Massachusetts by Sunday morning and it will be windy all day.

    For the latest forecast updates, visit the Boston 25 Weather page and download the Boston 25 Weather app.

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  • March snow on tap for parts of New England this weekend. Here’s what to expect

    March snow on tap for parts of New England this weekend. Here’s what to expect

    If you thought spring was here, think again because winter is still in the forecast. Snow is on tap for parts of Massachusetts and northern New England this weekend.

    The Saturday storm is trending later on arrival, which would mean even less chance for snow in southern New England. This one may start as snow, especially north of the Mass Pike, but turn quickly to rain, Boston 25 Meteorologist Shiri Spear wrote in her latest weather blog.

    “I’m not sure there is going to be any impact in the greater Boston area, the North Shore, or Worcester along the Mass Pike,” Spear said in her latest forecast.

    The bigger concern is Route 2 northward in the morning hours which Spear says will be slippery as rain comes down and turns the roads to slush.

    So much snow will fall across New England?

    “Central and northern New England, it is going to be a snowy Saturday,” Spear said. “For us locally we are looking at mostly rain.”

    By early afternoon it will flip to rain across southern New England and rain will continue into the evening hours.

    There is the potential for “heavy snow” in parts of Vermont and New Hampshire.

    The storm is expected to pull out of Massachusetts by Sunday morning.

    For the latest forecast updates, visit the Boston 25 Weather page and download the Boston 25 Weather app.

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

    Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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